The warm weather starts its invitation to chill the nights outdoor. Time to plan your backyard getaway. Good thing, creating your very own outdoor living space nowadays need not be as meticulous as it was years ago. Homeowners today may invest with the outdoor furniture and decor, but still, allow their designs to be influenced with simplicity and functionality.

So, what’s the hottest backyard living trends now?

1. Low Maintenance Gardens

Simple and crisps backyard designs slowly replace splendid and dramatic landscapes. For economic and environmental reasons, homeowners start to think out of the box and go back to basics. They began to focus on sustainable, low-maintenance, natural yet better-quality materials.

Ideal plants are those drought-tolerant or plants that can live without water for a long period of time, disease resistant and easy to grow. These include lavender, agave, bougainvillea, poppy, portulaca and many other succulents, cactus and herbs. A backyard flourished with plants that are naturally thriving around requires minimal upkeeping.

2. Rustic Contemporary Lounge Areas

Patios that feels comfy and cozy and with the essence of the countryside are another backyard trends. This outdoor space adjoining a house becomes, literally, an extension of “home” and adapts the homely character of rustic indoor spaces. The setting is perfect for dining and recreation with friends and encourages stimulating conversations.

3. Unique Water Features

Backyard designs that highlight water features remain to be a favorite. Water suggests tranquility. The idea of water flowing in a garden or its fluid sound filling the air relaxes and soothes the mind. Homeowners use various and unique water features such as ponds, pools, remote water walls, portable fountain, streams to inexpensive independent water systems.

4. Foodscaping: here to stay

Edible gardens or landscaping with food are fast becoming popular especially among homeowners who wish to establish a community of urban farmers. Edible gardens may provide the neighborhood with healthy and natural products. Urban farmers usually harvest fruits, vegetables, and herbs from these outdoor spaces. Edible gardens sprouted in place of turf grass. These gardens can be set from anywhere and can thrive in small spaces and containers. The following plants, which can be grown here include greens, herbs, tomatoes, peppers, beans, eggplants, and berries.

5. Indoors Goes Outside

Using new and relaxed outdoor fabrics, homeowners can indulge in creating customized living spaces outdoors. Outdoor fabrics are waterproof, resist fading, stain resistant, can be easily cleaned and usually made from acrylic fibers. These fabrics usually endure children and pets. Outdoor fabric covers patio furniture, planters, outdoor pillows and cushions, shade sails, pergola canopies, and umbrellas.

6. Going Green

Eco-friendly in its truest sense of green design, barbecue courtyard and outdoor kitchen is definitely not the least among the hottest design trends this year. Transforming the traditional backyard, “backyard is open to almost every room in the house, rather than being open to one or two rooms,” shared Steve Kemps, an architect. Outdoor space is usually observable from other rooms and is within reach from the back or from the lounge room.

7. Privacy screens, stackable furniture

Privacy screens suggest subtle division from the other section of the house or from neighbors nearby; and at the same time, decorative as well. You may choose from self-watering planters, bamboo screens, wall art, trellis, and brushwood to enhance the character of your backyard and may double as a privacy screen.

So there, you just have to know exactly how you want to use your space, maybe hanging out with your family and friends, cooking and having parties; then, perhaps, try mixing up different backyard designs to serve your purpose. In no time, you are finally settling into your own weekend rendezvous.